Former Mayor Raja, wife quit Cong, join AAP

The entry of the couple, former Congress Mayor Jagdish Raja and his wife and former Senior Deputy Mayor Anita Raja, into the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday has upset the plans of the relative of Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora to contest MC elections.

Arora's relative Raju Madaan had staked his claim to contest from ward no 64, which seems to have now been dashed with the entry of ex-Mayor Raja into the party. Arora even attended a function this morning at Adarsh Nagar, falling in the ward, on the invitation of Madaan. Madaan had opened AAP office in the ward where the MLA had gone as the chief guest.

Post Raja's entry into the party through AAP Punjab president Raman Arora and working president Amansher Singh Sharry Kalsi, Madaan's claim seems to have fallen weak. Party leaders have reportedly promised Raja that he would be given AAP ticket from ward no. 64 and his wife from ward no. 65. While Raja was the last Mayor of the Jalandhar MC getting elected in January 2018, his wife was Senior Deputy Mayor in the previous tenure of the Congress from 2002-07.

While Raja has been five-time councillor, his wife has been three-time councillor and hence both stand a strong claim from AAP as well. Sources in the party said Madaan had been given an assurance that he would be given the post as chairman of a board. His claim to the ticket is based on the ground that he had worked aggressively for the party during the recent Jalandhar West bypoll.

Raja, who has obviously joined the new party sensing better prospects, said, "I liked the policies of AAP and hence came here." He did not have a good equation with District Congress Committee chief and ex-MLA of the area Rajinder Beri, who had supported his claim to become a Mayor. Raja performed well as the Leader of Opposition in the MC Jalandhar from 2013-2018, but earned a lot of criticism during his tenure as the Mayor.